Mina Overview
- Meaning: When Mina is derived from Greek, the name means “royalty.” The meaning royalty comes from the Greek legend Minos. When derived from German, the name means “protection” or “protector,” from the German words “wille” (will or determination) and “helm” (protection).
- Gender: Mina has generally been used as a feminine name for children. Mina was used as a masculine name in Ancient Egypt.
- Origin: Greek and German.
- Pronunciation: “MEE-nuh”
- Popularity: Though it hasn’t cracked the top 500 yet, Mina is a popular name. So far, the most popular year for the title was 2021, when it ranked #589.
- Nicknames: Mi, Mia, Mimi, Minari, Mini.
- Variations: Elma, Giacomina, Helma, Iben, Iina, Jacqueline, Jacquette, Jamesina, Mien, Miina, Minna, Vilhelmina, Vilma, Wilhelmina, Żaklina, Zhaklina.
- Namesakes: Mina Loy, Mina Myoi, Mina Tobias.”
What Does Mina Mean?
The meaning of the name Mina depends on the language from which it’s derived. Although there are many possibilities, the primary sources given as the origin of the name Mina are either German or Greek.
In Greek, the name Mina means “royalty.” The meaning royalty comes from the Greek legend Minos.
In German, the name Mina means “protection” or “protector” because of the German words “wille,” which means will or determination, and “helm,” which means “protection.”
What Is the Origin of the Name Mina?
Mina is a name that seems to have various origins, as it developed independently around the world. The primary roots are Greek and German.
When derived from Ancient Greece, the name Mina comes from the masculine Minos, which comes from Greek mythology. In mythology, Minos was the son of Zeus and the King of Crete, a Greek island (1).
When derived from German, Mina comes from the feminine name Wilhelmina. Wilhelmina is the feminine version of the German and Dutch names Wilhelm and William. The name became popular during Queen Wilhelmina’s reign, who was a queen of the Netherlands and a German princess popular with the Netherlands public (2).
How Popular Is the Name Mina?
Mina was a remarkably popular name from 1880 to 1916, as it sat in the top 500 most popular names for girls in the United States for all those years. It began to drop in popularity towards the middle of the century and fell out of the top 1000 in 1944.
However, the name has seen a significant resurgence after a long gap from 1944 to 2002. In 2022, the title once again entered the top 1000 at the rank of #946 (3).
Since 2002, Mina has been steadily rising in the ranks, reaching the rank of #809 in 2011 and #625 in 2018. So far, the most popular year for the name was 2021, when it ranked #589. Though it hasn’t cracked the top 500 yet, Mina is a popular name (4).
How Do I Pronounce Mina?
The name Mina is pronounced, “MEE-nuh.” The name rhymes with the words “arena” and “hyena.”
Is Mina a Boy or Girl Name?
Mina is typically used as a feminine name for children in the United States, but in Ancient Egypt, it was a masculine name and was used by one of the first Pharaohs (5).
Variations of Mina
Since Mina is a shortened form of several parent names, many variations exist for different areas.
- Elma (German)
- Giacomina (Italian)
- Helma (Dutch)
- Iben (Danish)
- Iina (Finnish)
- Jacqueline (Brazilian Portuguese)
- Jacquette (French)
- Jamesina (Scottish)
- Mien (Limburgish)
- Miina (Finnish)
- Minna (Swedish)
- Vilhelmina (Lithuanian)
- Vilma (Croatian, Czech)
- Wilhelmina (Dutch, English)
- Żaklina (Polish)
- Zhaklina (Bulgarian)
Nicknames for Mina
Mina is a short name, but there are still some excellent nicknames you can use.
- Mi
- Mia
- Mimi
- Minari
- Mini
Similar Names to Mina
If Mina sounds perfect to you, these similar names will work just as well.
Middle Names for Mina
- Amelia
- Aria
- Beverly
- Brigitte
- Bronwyn
- Caroline
- Claire
- Elizabeth
- Elsa
- Florence
- Lydia
- Lynn
- Paige
- Rose
- Ruth
- Sloane
Sibling Names for Mina
Many of these trendy names are gender-neutral or unisex, which has become a popular trend in recent years.
- Addison
- Aubrey
- Beau
- Billie
- Briar
- Charlie
- Esme
- Jade
- Jody
- Kim
- Madison
- Reese
- Riley
- Taylor
- Quinn
- Whitney
Famous People Named Mina
Here we’ve found some of the most famous people named Mina from every corner of the world.
- Mina/Menes: Pharoah of the Early Dynastic Period, Uniter of Upper and Lower Egypt.
- Mina Loy: English writer and poet.
- Mina Mazzini: Italian-Swiss variety show singer popular in the 1960s and 1970s.
- Mina Minovici: Romanian forensic scientist well-known for his research on the topics of simulated mind diseases and criminal anthropology.
- Mina Myoi: Japanese singer based in South Korea and member of the K-pop group “TWICE.”
- Mina Shum: Independent Canadian filmmaker.
- Mina Tobias: American singer well-known for her hit song “Kings & Queens.”
Mina in Popular Culture
Mina has become a popular character name for many animated projects.
- Mina Aino: the real-world identity of Sailor Venus in the manga and TV series “Sailor Moon.”
- Mina Ashido: a character in the manga and anime series “My Hero Academia.”
- Mina Carolina: a character in the manga and anime series “Attack on Titan.”
- Mina Harker: the main character in the novel “Dracula” by Bram Stoker.
- Mina Loveberry: a character in the TV series “Star vs. the Forces of Evil.”
Mina FAQs
Here are some frequently asked questions about the name Mina.
What Does the Name Mina Mean in Japanese?
The word “Mina” in Japan means everybody and is used as a formal greeting similar to the American terms “y’all” or “guys.”
